Romeo

• Who is the eponymous character of the play?

  Romeo Montague
• How is Romeo initially portrayed in the play?

  As an archetypal Petrarchan lover
• What causes Romeo to isolate himself?

  His unrequited love for Rosaline
• What major shift occurs when Romeo meets Juliet?

  It changes the trajectory of the play
• How are Romeo and Juliet described in relation to fate?

  As "star-crossed lovers"
• What does the play question about tragedies?

  Whether they are caused by choices or fate
• What is Romeo's hamartia in the play?

  His inability to think rationally
• How does Romeo's impulsive behavior affect his fate?

  It leads to his downfall
• Who translated the folktale about Romeo into English?

  Arthur Brooke
• What does Brooke's tale primarily function as?

  As a cautionary tale about lust
• How does Shakespeare's portrayal of Romeo differ from Brooke's?

  Shakespeare questions love through soliloquies
• What does Petrarchan love typically involve?

  Objectification of women and tormented lovers
• How does Romeo's love for Rosaline reflect Petrarchan tropes?

  It shows unrequited and unattainable love
• What does Romeo's bond with Mercutio and Benvolio represent?

  Homosociality typical of Elizabethan England
• How were men educated in Elizabethan England?

  They were educated together in public domains
• How does Mercutio's death affect Romeo?

  It instigates his retaliation against Tybalt
• What societal norms does Romeo's friendship reflect?

  Elizabethan gender rules and homosociality
• How does Romeo behave in relation to societal expectations?

  He breaks laws and customs
• What is the significance of fencing in the play?

  It reflects the Italian influence on dueling
• What is debated about Shakespeare's purpose in portraying Romeo?

  Whether it is didactic or reflective of society
• What are the key characteristics of Romeo's character development?

  • Loving: Explores different types of love
  • Fateful: Struggles against fate and fortune
  • Religious: Contains religious allusions
  • Isolated: Experiences self-inflicted loneliness
  • Masculine: Navigates societal gender norms
  • Violent: Contrasts love with violent behavior
• How does Romeo's love for Juliet differ from his love for Rosaline?

  Juliet represents real and tangible love
• What does Romeo's isolation signify in the play?

  His detachment from the world and self
• How does Romeo's refusal to duel Tybalt reflect his character?

  It subverts stereotypical masculinity
• What role does Juliet play in relation to violence in the play?

  She acts as the antidote to violence
• How does Juliet's choice at the end of the play relate to violence?

  It ends the feud and violence
• What is the nature of Romeo and Juliet's relationship?

  It develops quickly and is passionate
• How does Rosaline's absence affect the audience's perception of love?

  It highlights the difference between lust and love
• Who resolves the conflict between the Montagues and Capulets?

  Lord Montague
• How does Lady Montague's reaction to Romeo's death affect her character?

  She dies from grief
• How does Mercutio serve as a foil for Romeo?

  He is cynical and focused on physical love
• What is the significance of Mercutio's 'Queen Mab' speech?

  It attempts to make Romeo feel better
• How does Romeo react to Mercutio's death?

  He is overcome with murderous rage
• Who is Romeo's main rival?

  Tybalt
• What role does the Friar play in Romeo's life?

  He acts as a father figure
• What does Romeo say about love in his first speech?

  It is full of contradictions
• What does the use of oxymorons in Romeo's speech signify?

  It highlights the ineffable quality of love
• How does the structure of Romeo's speech reflect his experience with love?

  It is an imperfect sonnet, indicating flaws
• What does the caesura in Romeo's line about beauty imply?

  Death interrupts beauty
• What does the repetition of "dies" in Romeo's quote emphasize?

  The transience of beauty and life